Bony fishes

The only reasonably comprehensive list of fishes which have been caught or observed in situ close to Lundy was made by Dr R.S.V. Pullin of the University of Liverpool’s Port Erin Marine Laboratory on the Isle of Man almost 50 years ago. His list was published in the Lundy Field Society’s Annual Report of 1977 (vol. 28, pp 45-54). Geographically, the list is not confined to the extent of the MPA (or voluntary marine nature reserve as it was then) but includes records of fishes caught by anglers and commercial fishermen ‘in the vicinity of Lundy’.

According to Pullin, before 1977 there had been nine species of shark recorded in the vicinity of Lundy, four species of ray, 51 species of bony fish (which included a sturgeon!) and one lamprey. Further information about shark species found close to Lundy can be found here.

Sea angling is permitted within the MPA but not within the No Take Zone. In addition, during seabird nesting season (March to August), please keep at least 100 m away from cliffs. Anglers are encouraged to minimise the time a fish spends out of the water and to return all catches of wrasse species to the sea alive. Fish species typically caught by anglers (from the shore, jetty or boat) include:

• Bass Dicentrachus labrax
• Pollack Pollachius pollachius
• Wrasse – assorted species
• Mackerel Scomber scombrus
• Launce (Greater sandeel) Hyperoplus lanceolatus
• Garfish (Needlefish) Belone belone

If you happen upon any unusual behaviours, sightings or catches of fishes you think might be of interest to the MPA's managers (especially if you took photos), please enter the details in the uploadable Sightings Recording Form here.

A selection of Lundy’s fishes is shown below, separated into those found on the shore, in the nearshore zone, on the seabed and in open water, but not listed in any particular order.

Shore fishes

Cornish sucker/shore clingfish Lepadogaster purpurea	Sea snail Liparis liparis	Montagus blenny Coryphoblennius galerita	Shanny Lipophrys pholis
Able to cling to rocky surfaces using its modified pelvic fins. © Paul Naylor marinephoto	A small, tadpole-shaped fish which can cling to rocky surfaces. Colour variable. © Paul Naylor marinephoto	Rarely seen, though may be common close to the jetty. © Keith Hiscock	Frequently found in mid to low shore rockpools. © Keith Hiscock
Eel Anguilla anguilla	Shore (Three-bearded) rockling Gaidropsarus mediterraneus	Fifteeen-spined stickleback Spinachia spinachia	Worm pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis
Individuals up to 40 cm long occasionally found mid-shore, Devil’s Kitchen. © Keith Hiscock	Smooth, scaleless dark skin with three distinct barbels around the mouth. © Keith Hiscock]	Occasionally found in rockpools, Devil’s Kitchen. © Tim Mountjoy	Occasionally found in rockpools. Males (here) carry fertilised eggs on their undersides. © Paul Naylor marinephoto

Fishes of the nearshore zone

Goldsinny wrasse Ctenolabrus rupestris	Cuckoo wrasse Labrus mixtus (male)	Cuckoo wrasse Labrus mixtus (female / juvenile)	Ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta
Common in groups of 1-6 on lower boulder slopes, particularly along east coast. © Keith Hiscock	Brightly coloured with light blue and orange markings. Common on lower boulder slopes. © Paul Kay	Characteristic black & white blotches on rear part of dorsum. Common on lower boulder slopes © Keith Hiscock	Variable colour patterns. Common in kelp forests and amongst rocks on all coasts. © Keith Hiscock
Rock cook Centrolabrus exoletus	Launce/greater sandeel Hyperoplus laceolatus	Two-spotted goby Pomatoschistus flavescens	Pollack Pollachius pollachius
In small groups or as large solitary individuals, particularly along east coast. © Keith Hiscock	May be seen close to sandy seabeds but will dive into the sand to hide if threatened. © Paul Naylor marinephoto	Common as shoals in kelp forests. © Keith Hiscock	Juveniles (as shown here) display beautiful patterning. May be seen hovering above kelp forests. © Paul Kay

Seabed (benthic) fishes

Leopard-spotted goby Thorogobius ephippiatus	Tompot blenny Parablennius gattorugine	Long-spined sea scorpion Taurulus bubalis	Conger eel Conger conger
Common as individuals on ledges at the boundary between rocky slopes and mud or sand. © Paul Kay	Occasionally seen hiding in rock crevices. Individuals can be identified by unique patterning on the head. © Paul Naylor marinephoto	In low shore rockpools and in shallows around SE coast. Beautifully camouflaged. © Paul Kay	Occasional (as individuals) in rocky areas and within wrecks. A night-time hunter. © Maggs Ashton
Red band fish Cepola macrophthalma (male)	Anglerfish Lophius piscatorius	Red gurnard Chelidonichthys cuculus	Two-spotted clingfish Diplecogaster bimaculata
Lives in burrows in small groups in muddy gravel off NE coast. © Robert Irving	On soft substrata off the east side. Beautifully camouflaged. © Keith Hiscock	Occasionally seen on muddy gravel off east coast. © Keith Hiscock	Occasionally seen hiding in shells off east coast. © Keith Hiscock

Open water (pelagic) fishes

Pollack Pollachius pollachius	Bib/pouting Trisopterus luscus	Poor cod Trisopterus minutus	Whiting Merlangius merlangus
Adult fish with silver flanks and protruding lower jaw. Occasional shoals or singles seen off east side. © Keith Hiscock	Not often seen by divers at Lundy, though often associated with wrecks. © Keith Hiscock	Not often seen by divers. Solitary individuals may swim with shoals of bib/pouting. © Paul Naylor marinephoto	Occasionally seen by divers as single individuals within small shoals of gadoids around wrecks. © Anon.
Cod Gadus morhua	Bass Dicentrarchus labrax	Mackerel Scomber scombrus	John Dory Zeus faber
Young fish sometimes caught by anglers off Lee Rocks in winter. © Paul Naylor marinephoto	Silvery fish. Occasionally caught by anglers from the shore. © Keith Hiscock	Used to be commonly caught by anglers during the summer months, but now far less so. © Anon.	Rarely seen and only as individuals. Often associated with wrecks. © Paul Naylor marinephoto